8. Summary

Many producers purchase medicated milk replacer without recognizing
that it contains antibiotics and without understanding that the dose of
antibiotics is too low to treat common bacterial causes of calf scours
or respiratory disease. Use of medicated milk replacers can contribute
to the dissemination of antimicrobial resistant bacteria, possibly
causing treatment failures on farms or in human hospitals.

Almost half of U.S. dairy producers have found that sound animal
husbandry practices eliminate the need for the routine use of medicated
milk replacers. They have found that it is more effective to
prevent scours and respiratory disease in calves through management
procedures such as sanitation, isolation and an adequate amount of high
quality colostrum given within 24 hours of birth.